Mechanism for power shovels and the like



Aug. 27, 1929. M. I. BRADLEY MECHANISM FOR POWER SHOVELS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 16, 1927 11v VENTOR BRA UL E X MERRILL z 7 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

cars srares 1,726,210 PAT N OFFICE.

MERRILL I. BRADLEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL POWER SI-IOVEL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Application filed December 16, 1927. Serial No. 240,513.

This invention relates to mechanism for power shovels, excavating cranes and the like, the principal object being to provide a construction whereby one of the shafts thereof may be employed either as a sprocket shaft or as a drum shaft.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for power shovels and the like in which one of the operating shafts thereof is provided with a sprocket wheel for driving a chain,

means being provided for removably supporting a drum over the sprocket wheel when desired.

Another object is to provide a digger or other shaft with a hub provided with a sprocket, means being provided for driving the sprocket in either direction whereby it may be utilized for either raising or lowering the dipper shaft of a power shovel, the hub being provided with means for removably receiving a drum around the sprocket whereby the shaft may be used for other purposes than controlling a dipper shaft when desired.

A further object is to provide a hub with a sprocket permanently secured thereto, the hub being provided with an end flange at one end thereof and a threaded support at the other end thereof, a plurality of cylindrical drum segments being receivable between the flange and the support and being securable thereto by means of a ring-like member threadably received on the support.

The above being among the objects of the present invention the same consists in. cer tain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in View.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the different views,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken centrally through the digger shaft of an excavating crane, powershovel or like mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. i

In excavating cranes, power shovels and like mechanisms a shaft is generally rovided at the forward. end thereof which is ieominoni the shaft, such shaft. v

adjacent each block 7 is a bushing sleeve 9,

shaft being generally provided with a the mechanism may be used with a clamshell bucket, a dragline or the like, and in such cases means must be provided forproviding a drum for use in place of the sprocket. Various methods have been sug gestcd for accomplishing this result. In some cases a drum is permanently employed on the shaft and the sprocket wheel is removably secured to the drum. In otherconstructions a hub is provided on the shaft to which either a sprocket wheel or a drum may be removably secured. I

In the present invention I provide a construction which is more simple and more economical to build and use than the conventional constructions and in which the digger shaft may be employed. either for the purpose of turning a chain or winding or unwinding a cable.

By way of illustration I show in the accompany drawing the table 5 of an excavating crane or power shovel which may be supported on an under carriage (not shown) so as to pivot thereon in any conventional manner. Rigidly secured to each side of the table 5 are two upwardly extending supporting members 6 having secured to their upper ends the blocks 7 which receive and support the shaft 8 which may be considered as what is conventionally termed the digger Rotatably received on the shaft 8 and secured to each bushing 9 is a clutch. The construction of each clutch is substantially the same, and the description of the left hand clutch of Fig. 1, which is shown in section, will, therefore, suffice for both.

'Each clutch comprises a main portion 10 which is secured to the bushing 9 so as to rotate therewith and has formed on its periphery the gear teeth 11. Each of the clutches include a driven disc 12 which is adapted to be releasably clamped to the main portion it means the plat-c 13 which is adapted to be drawn towards the main member in any conventional manner. Rotatably supported on the shaft 8 between the clutches is a hub 14 provided with a bushing 15, the bushing 15 being held against axial movement on the shaft 8 by means of the collars 16 which are received in grooves 17 formed in the shaft 8 at each end of the bushing 15. The hub 14 has formed thereon, adjacent its center, a sprocket wheel 18. The sprocket wheel may be formed integrally with the hub member 14, as shown, or may be formed separately and attached thereto in a suitable manner. One end of the hub member 14 is provided with a radially extending disc-like flange portion 19, and the opposite end of the hub member 14 l is provided with a smallerradially extending in either direction. Thus, as previously described, when the device upon which the mechanism shown is employed is being used as a power shovel, a suitable chain (not shown) engaging the sprocket 18 may be extended to'the pinion gear (not shown) engaging the rack (not shown) on the dipper stick (not shown) through intermediate means or not as the case may be, in order to raise or lower the dipper.

In order to change the construction so that the mechanism described may be employed for suitable operation when it is desired to use a clam-shell or dragline with the same, I provide a novel means for mounting a drum so as to be operated and used in place of the sprocket 18. To accomplish this I form on that portion of the periphery of the disc-like flange portion 20 nearest the sprocket 18 a cylindrical seat 22, and thread that portion of the periphery more remote from the sprocket'18. I then form a groove in the near side of the disc portion 19 to provide a cylindrical seat 23 of the same diameter as the seat 22 and to provide a bevel face 24 outwardly of the same, it being understood that the diameter of the seats 22 and 23 are greater than the outside diameter of the sprocket 18. I then provide two or more cylindrical segments 25 having an internal diameter equal to the diameter of the seats 22 and 23 and of a length commensurate with the distance between the same. The outer end portions of the segments 25 are inwardly tapered to correspond with the angle of the bevel face 24. After the chain has been removed from the sprocket 18 the segments 25 are positioned on the seats with their one end received on the seat 23 and abutting against face 24, and the opposite end being received on the shoulder 22. A ring-like member 26 having hub portion 27 threadably engaging the threaded portion of the support or flange 20 and having bevel face 28 complementary to the adjacent beveled end of the segments 25 is threaded inwardly on the portion 20 until the bevel face 28 engages the adjacent end of the segments 25 and not only} forces the segments 25 against the seat 23 and shoulder 24 but also against the seat 22, thereby locking the segments 25 in position in which they form a complete drum encircling the sprocket 18. That port-ion of the flange 19 extending outwardly from the segments 25 and the ring 26 form the side flanges for the drum upon which a suitable cable such as 29 may be wound in the conventional manner. though this method of securing the drum to the hub 14 is such as may prevent rotation of the same with respect to the hub 14 due to the friction setup by the beveled portions 24 and 28, any disadvantage of such rotation may be effectively eliminated by forming an opening such as 30 in the ring26, as shown, or in the disc 19 if desired, and passing an end of the cable 29 through the opening 30 and securing a block-31 or other suitable'stop on the outer side of thesame, thus transmitting all turning effort on the cable to the ring 26 or disc 19 as the case may be.

In practiceit will be obvious that the ring 26 is at all times positioned onthe support ing portion 20 whether the segments 25 are secured in place as shown, or not, it being secured against relative rotation with respect to the hub 14 when the segments 25 are removed by threading it to the limit of its threadable position towards the sprocket 18, or by suitable locking means. Thus, the change from the sprocket to the drum may be easily and quickly accomplished by screwing the ring 26 away from the sprocket 18 sufliciently to permit the positioning of the segments 25 and the subsequent screwing in of the ring 26 towards the sprocket 18 until the segments 25 are securely locked in position on the seats 22 and 23.

This construction has the advantage over the convention constructions in that it is never necessary to remove the sprocket 18, it being necessary only to add the drum segments 25 in making the change from the use of the sprocket to the use of the drum, or theremoval of the segments in changing from the drum to the sprocket.

Although I have shown a particular man ner of formation of the drum segments 25, and a particularmanner of securing them in place with respect to the hub 14, it will be apparent that in the broader aspects of my invention I am not limited to the specific construction shown, and formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a rotatable hub, a pair of end flanges on said hub each provided with a cylindrical seat, a plurality of cylindrical segments receivable on said seats, and means for wedging said segments against said seats.

2. In combination, a rotatable hub provided with radially extending end portions, each portion being provided with a cylindrical seat, and cylindrical segments receivable on and between said seats, one of said seats being formed with a bevel face, and the other of said seats being formed with a bevel face axially movable relative to the first mentioned bevel face, said bevel faces being adapted to engage said segments and force them into contact with said seats.

3. In combination, a rotatable hub provided with a radially extending portion at one end thereof, a radially extending portion at the other end thereof of less diameter than the first mentioned portion and provided at its periphery with a cylindrical seat, a groove formed in the first mentioned portion to provide a cylindrical seat and a beveled face, a plurality of cylindrical segments removably receivable on said seats and extending between the same, and a ring member provided with a bevel face engageable with one end of said segments received on the second mentioned portion and movable axially to force said segments against said seats by engagement with said bevel faces.

4:. In combination, a rotatable hub provided with a radially extending flange portion, a second radially extending flange portion on said hub spaced from the first mentioned portion and of less diameter than the first mentioned portion, a cylindrical seat formed on said second portion, a cylindrical seat and co-operating bevel face formed on the first mentioned portion, a ring member threadably received on said second mentioned portion provided with a bevel face co-operating with the first mentioned seat and axially adjustable relative thereto, and a plurality of cylindrical segments removably received on said seats and extending between the same co-operating to form a drum, said segments being formed with bevel ends compleniental to said bevel faces and adapted to be engaged thereby upon said axial movement of said ring member whereby to secure said segments in position upon said seats.

5. In combination, a rotatable hub provided with a. sprocket fixed thereto and a .radially extending member on each side of said sprocket, said members being provided with seats outwardly of said sprocket, cylindrical segments co-operating to form a drum removably receivable on said seats, a third member for clamping said segments to said seats, and one of said members being provided with an opening for the reception of a cable adapted to be wound on said drum.

6. In combination,arotatable hub provided with a sprocket fixed thereto and a radially extending member on each side of said sprocket, said members being formed to pro- Vide seats radially outwardly of said sprocket, cylindrical segments receivable on said seats over said sprocket, and means co-operating with at least one of said members for removably securing said segments to said seats, said segments co-operating with said members to form a drum and upon removal permitting a chain driven from a point radially outwardly of said seats to engage said sprocket.

MERRILL I. BRADLEY. 

